Schumer's Opening Statement: You will hold power/ define freedom...

[bettyellen]

" If confirmed, you will be one of nine people who collectively hold power over everyone who lives in this country. You will define our freedom; you will affect our security; you will shape our law.

You will determine, on some days, where we pray and how we vote; you will define, on other days, when life begins and what our schools may teach; and you will decide, from time to time, who shall live and who shall die.

The decisions are final, and appeals impossible.

That is the awesome responsibility and power of a Supreme Court Justice. It is, therefore, only appropriate that everyone who aspires to that office bear a heavy burden when they come before the Senate and the American people to prove that they are worthy."

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/campaignforthecourt/2006/01/schumer_opening.html

[bettyellen]

1. more about the questions he will be asked and why....

" Harriet Miers’s nomination was blocked by a cadre of conservative critics who undermined her at every turn. She did not get to explain her judicial philosophy; she did not get to testify at a hearing; and she did not get the up-or-down vote on the Senate Floor that her critics are now demanding that you receive.

Why? For the simple reason that those critics could not be sure that her judicial philosophy squared with their extreme political agenda. They seem to be very sure with you.

The same critics who called the President on the carpet for naming Harriet Miers have rolled out the red carpet for you, Judge Alito. We would be remiss if we did not explore why.

.... snip....

After so many of my friends across the aisle spoke so loudly about the obligation of nominees to testify candidly about their legal views and their judicial philosophy when the nominee was Harriet Miers, I hope we will not see a flip-flop now that the nominee is Sam Alito."

[soothsayer]

2. whattabout "you may decide (inexplicably) who wins the WH"

That oughta' scare folks

[worldgonekrazy]

3. My favorite bite

"The President is not a king – free to take any action he chooses, without limitation by law; the Court is not a legislature – free to substitute its own judgment for that of the elected bodies; and the people are not subjects – powerless to control their own most intimate decisions."

I don't know if the general public will find this persuasive, but for me it hit the nail squarely on the head.

[bettyellen]

4. It's getting to be a big issue with people.....

and once they consider a Dem could do the same in 3 1/2 years, even hardcore RWers will be upset by this.